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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,688
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,688 |
OBDII diagnostics have saved me a ton of garage fees over the years. Whenever I get a CEL I read it with a code reader and hit the internet. There is almost always a trend to be found and diagnostics to pinpoint the problem.
I like to do my own wrenching so that helps also.
I don't eat anything that didn't have a mother.
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 42,801 Likes: 1
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 42,801 Likes: 1 |
I take my check engine light seriously... every time I have had one come on, I check under the hood.... yup the engine is still there...wonder why the manufacturer wanted me to check if it was still there??? the other one I don't get, is when a dash light comes on and tells ya the door is ajar.... a door isn't a JAR... its a damned DOOR.... No wonder they call these things idiot lights... 
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,359
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,359 |
The one in my Taco has been on for 7 years..... Me too -- $120,000+ miles of check engine light... About 5 years now on my 2000 Silverado. Last I heard at a $90 diagnostic cost was, it is an emission part for $800 that you don't really need... In Virginia, the light being on is not a "fail" on the inspection.
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,740
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,740 |
I'm in the middle on this.
I'll have the parts store read the code, then I'll hit Google to see how often the code points to a specific part, how hard that part is to replace, and how often that's really the problem. If it looks like a good chance that I'd be blindly throwing parts at it, I'll take it to the mechanic.
Sometimes I get lucky. The kid's Taurus threw a 0153, & we had it read as a bad 02 sensor. We checked all the wires leading to the 02 sensors for fraying, & that their connectors were solidly in place. We also checked the air filter, & the fit of the lid on the air box. I wiggled all the vacuum hoses I could find, then we pulled the battery cable for 10 minutes, & crossed our fingers. 2 months a few hundred miles later, we're still in good shape.
FC
"Every day is a holiday, and every meal is a banquet."
- Mrs. FC
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,688
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,688 |
My cel came on the first time I filled up when I bought my used '99 Chevy. A mechanic friend read it and told me it was a bad Evap cannister. No big deal. He reset the light and told me not to fill it all the way up (until the pump clicks) anymore.
A few years later a crankshaft sensor went bad. I didn't get involved in changing it, but from what I understand it wasn't much fun.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,543
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,543 |
Back when i owned a dodge pu.i bought a scanner to find out what was the matter.
Having sold the truck i leave it at my bud's auto parts store,so he can use it on folks stuff when they come in.
Don't recall how much it cost but it has made him a lot of money. did the code come back and say " you bought a Dodge" sorry...could help it....
have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues, can you bend them guitar strings
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 17,278
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 17,278 |
I've got a fairly cheap reader, ScanGuageII ($150 or so) and it has pointed me in the right direction many times on GM, Honda, and Ford vehicles. If you have a smartphone, you can get one of those OBD2/Bluetooth dongles for not very much (less than $8.00 here), download a free app called Torque, and have something close to the kind of engine monitor available for airplanes. (You don't get cylinder-by-cylinder temps, but you'd be amazed at what you can get in real time from that dongle.) Of course you can see why your light's on and turn it off if you want, but that's only the very beginning.
"But whether the Constitution really be one thing, or another, this much is certain--that it has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it. In either case, it is unfit to exist." --Lysander Spooner, 1867
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,465
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,465 |
Not "borderline" at all. It is a royal scam. And the car manufacturerers keep making it more and more expensive and difficult for noon dealer machanics - let alone do it yourselfers- to diagnose or repair anything. That's absolutely false. Diagnostic codes make it far easier for a DIYer or a mechanic to diagnose and repair problems. It takes the guess work out. If you pull the code(s) and do some internet research a competent DIY mechanic can accomplish repairs without resorting to taking it to a shop. Fish head is right, a code scanner makes diagnosing and/or fixing a modern vehicle so much easier for the home mechanic. At the very least, they will help you know what the problem is BEFORE you head to the dealer. If you have and Android phone, you can buy an application called Torque Pro. Then all you need is a Bluetooth reader from Amazon that plugs into your OBDII port and you're set to read your engine codes as well monitor how your engine and transmission is operating while parked or driving. There are similar programs available iPhones. Total cost for the program and the reader is around $40. And it's not auto manufactures that have pushed this new auto technology. Government fuel economy and emission rules have driven auto manufacturers to squeeze every drop of fuel economy from engines while making them cleaner than ever. OBDII is your friend, read the codes then check the internet for what is wrong. Often you'll find detailed instructions on internet forums on how to repair the problem yourself. Holy Jesus I actually agree with Walt for once!
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,543
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,543 |
after recommendations here I bought the android dongle on Amazon - I have a USB code reader that hooks up to a laptop. The database in the laptop software gives you more detail and basically saves the extra step of having to google what the code means but the dongle/droid combination is much easier than that.
have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues, can you bend them guitar strings
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,250
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,250 |
I've got a fairly cheap reader, ScanGuageII ($150 or so) and it has pointed me in the right direction many times on GM, Honda, and Ford vehicles. If you have a smartphone, you can get one of those OBD2/Bluetooth dongles for not very much (less than $8.00 here), download a free app called Torque, and have something close to the kind of engine monitor available for airplanes. (You don't get cylinder-by-cylinder temps, but you'd be amazed at what you can get in real time from that dongle.) Of course you can see why your light's on and turn it off if you want, but that's only the very beginning. I just ordered one based on your say-so. I have a smart phone that I'm too dumb to use but maybe I can learn. I'm willing to give it a try just to be able to know what's happening. Thanks. 'Nother question: how do I download the file 'Torque'? I told you I was dumb on all this. 
Last edited by MColeman; 09/17/14.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,543
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,543 |
on your droid phone you should have a "play store" or google apps icon
open that up and search for torque
and then choose to install it on your phone. There is a free version and a pay version for $4.95
Last edited by KFWA; 09/17/14.
have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues, can you bend them guitar strings
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,250
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,250 |
on your droid phone you should have a "play store" or google apps icon
open that up and search for torque
and then choose to install it on your phone. There is a free version and a pay version for $4.95 Thanks. I have a Verizon Galaxy 5 so I'm assuming I have all that on it. I'll give it a try.
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,866
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,866 |
Dang light came on yesterday afternoon on way to the toy store. Kinda put a crimp on my plans, least in the back of my mind. First step is to put the OBD reader on it and see what the deal is. To me, that's it's main value - is this a big problem, or a little problem and can limp on a while.
Golldammed motion detector lights. A guy can’t even piss off his porch in peace any more.
"Look, I want to help the helpless. It's the clueless I don't give a [bleep] about." - Dennis Miller on obamacare.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,543
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,543 |
yep - just click on the the apps icon in the lower right corner of your screen, then keep swiping the apps screen to get to the ones (assuming yours are in alphabetical order) to the "p"'s. Look for Play Store app, and from there its pretty self intuitive to search for torque and install it.
Last edited by KFWA; 09/17/14.
have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues, can you bend them guitar strings
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,250
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,250 |
GOT IT! Many thanks.  (Does this make me a nerd, now?)
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 14,370
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 14,370 |
GOT IT! Many thanks. (Does this make me a nerd, now?) Isn't it against the law there??? 
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,250
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,250 |
GOT IT! Many thanks. (Does this make me a nerd, now?) Isn't it against the law there??? I live in the country so I only have to deal with the high sheriff.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,700
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,700 |
And it's not auto manufactures that have pushed this new auto technology. Government fuel economy and emission rules have driven auto manufacturers to squeeze every drop of fuel economy from engines while making them cleaner than ever.
You are exactly right. Govt demands lower emissions & higher fuel economy - two opposing forces. Actually the automotive computer system was quite the innovation by the auto manufacturers. Great innovation. -Ken
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,543
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,543 |
we should probably thank Honda for American cars engines lasting more than 100K miles
have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues, can you bend them guitar strings
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 14,370
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 14,370 |
And it's not auto manufactures that have pushed this new auto technology. Government fuel economy and emission rules have driven auto manufacturers to squeeze every drop of fuel economy from engines while making them cleaner than ever.
Actually the automotive computer system was quite the innovation by the auto manufacturers. Great innovation. -Ken It wasn't so great when they tried to use carbs & computers...that was an epic cluster....
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